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Winter’s REWARDS
Mainers have figured out how to pack the coldest months of the year with a warming cheer and
so many ways to get out and blast away the chill!
Photo: Danielle Perry
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LOCAL TIP
Treat yourself to a massage,
facial, and aromatherapy at one
of the region's day spas or
spa resorts—it's a sure antidote
to the winter blahs.
One of the first ways to add seasonal
charm to your visit is to take a horse
and carriage ride in the Old Port with
carolers on street corners and museum
homes all dressed up for the holidays.
Then visit the North Pole with a ride
along the waterfront on the Polar
Express. Bundle up and grab a hot
chocolate or cup of joe from one of our
many local coffee shops as you view
the historic beauty of Portland's
Victorian legacy.
As a low-cost alternative for finding
great culture, Greater Portland is hard
to beat, with a rich profusion of
professional theater and dance at a
fraction of the cost found in other cities.
Enjoy live music at intimate venues like
the State Theatre and One Longfellow
Square, and innovative artistic perform-
ances from jazz to Broadway show tours
presented by Portland Ovations inside
elegant Merrill Auditorium.
If you’re itching to get moving, join
Portland residents for some urban
skiing. The Eastern Promenade and
Green Belt trails cater to runners and
walkers, cyclists and skateboarders in
the warmer weather and, alternately, fans
of cross-country skiing and snowshoeing
in the winter. On particularly snowy days
don't be surprised if you see errant skiers
forgoing the trails and instead taking to
the streets. Downhill skiers can find
solace at one of Maine’s many ski
mountains like Sunday River in Bethel
and Shawnee Peak in Bridgton.
All that brisk winter air is sure to whip
up an appetite; reward your outdoor
excursions with hearty winter fare and
curl up beside a fire at a cozy inn. When
you’re ready to people watch and socialize,
take bar-hopping to a new level and
experience an ice bar—great blocks
of ice are carved into eye-pleasing
configurations from whimsical
characters to sculpted piping systems
that keep your drink cool as the liquid
sluices into your ready glass.
To maximize your appreciation of
Maine's winter wonderland, plan your
vacation to coincide with one of the
winter festivals put on in Portland, South
Portland, Freeport, and Westbrook, each
a special program of crowd-pleasing
activities, games and competitions
from chili and chowder cook-offs to
ice skating and sled-dog races. When
it comes to winter getaways, Portland is
one of the best values in the northeast.
Come embrace winter like a local with
culture, spectator sports and, of course,
snowscapes to keep you glowing.